Packing for steam-turbines.



G. Hum. BACKING r01: STEAM TURBINES. v APPLIUATION FILED HAY 19,1910. J 976,369,, 7 Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

% 2 SHEETS-LSHEET 1.

a, "I f: v

G. HUHN.

PACKING FOB. STEAM TURBINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19,1910.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

GUSTAV HUHN, or

BERLIN, GERMANY.

IPACKING FOR STEAM-TURBINES.

amass.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV .HUHN, manufacturer, citizen of Germany, subject of the King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Packing for the. Chamber-Walls of Steam-Turbines and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to packing the chamber walls of steam turbines and the like on rially ground in its rotation, so that they are able to fulfil their purpose for a long time.

As wedges for pressing the packing rings against the side wall of the turbine casing or shell divided rings of substantially triangular sectionafare preferably used which are pressed by sp ings against the packing rings surrounding the shaft.

Some illustrative embodiments of my invention are represented by way of example in the accompanying. drawing, wherein Figure l is an elevation of one embodiment showing a portion of a turbine shaft with the central parts of some blade wheels and diaphragms in section, Fig. 2 is an elevationof a divided packing ring, and F ig.

' 3 is an elevation of a divided wedge-shaped ring, whileflFig. 4 shows another embodiment in section, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of adivided packing ring employed in the latter embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 3, the sleeves or flanges 2 of the blade wheels or rotors l completely surround the shaft 3 on which they are keyed. The diaphragms 4 are provided with annular grooves 5 in the parts surrounding the sleeves 2.

Packing rings G are placed in each groove 5. In this illustrative embodiment these rings each comprise two half rings (Fig. 2) of substantially triangular section which are composed of hard metal, are made hollow Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted N 22, 1910 Application filed May 19, 1910.

Serial No. 562,306.

and filled with a lubricant. The metal rings 6 are ground exactly to fit on the sleeves 2 and are of such a size that the end faces of the halfrings closely contact one another so that the half rings abut against one another tightly at the joints 7 (Fig. 2).

In the illustrative embodiment the wedges 8 also comprise half rings of substantia 1y triangular section which fit on the rings 6. But in contradistinction to the half packing rings the end faces of the half wedge-shaped rings do not perfectly contact one with another; but on the contrary-the two halves of a ring are located some distance apart so 3). As seen from Fig. 1, neither the 'pack-' ing rings 6 nor the wedge-shaped rin s 8 completely fill the breadth of the ho low packing chamberand for this purpose are rounded oil at the pointed edges 10, 11. Also, in the vertical direction the hollow packing chamber is not completely filled by the packing and wedge-shaped rings, so that the entire system can participate in possible movements to and fro ofthe shaft and rotors.

The wedge-shaped rings 8 are provided outside with annular grooves 12. In each of these is placed a spiral spring 13" which embraces the two halves of the wedge-shaped ring and presses the wedge-shaped ring against the packing ring 6. In consequence of this pressure the faces 14 of the wedgeshaped rings 8 tend to slide inward on the slanting faces of the packing rings 6 and press the latter against the side wall 15 of the annular groove 5, while their side faces .16 press against the opposite wall of the groove 5. In this manner a strong wedge pressure is brought about; the packing rings are not pressed, as usual, against the shaft or the sleeves rotating with it, but against the side wall of the stationary annular grooves of the chamber walls, and do not load the shaft or the sleeves, so that their grinding is substantially-avoided, and owing to their ressing against the side walls they complete y prevent steam entering into the chambers.

In the illustrative embodiment the outer wedge-shaped rings are also hollow and filled with a lubricant. They are provided in the facesltwith outlets 17 for the lubricant, so that the wedge faces are lubricated, where by the wedge action can be increased still more.

' rings, and thus materially increase the deoscillates laterally.

When employed in steam turbines there is the danger that steam which-penetrates into the chamber or stufling box can exercise a pressing action on the rings from outside the Wedge-shaped rings in the same direction as the springs surrounding the wedge-shaped sired pressure exercised by the springs. As it is generally a matter of higlrprcssure steam, the' packing rings are then pressed in this manner by the wedges with exceptional force against the side walls of the chambers, So that they are not able to move at all and consequently cannot yield when the shaft This can be avoided by relieving the rings fromthe pressure of the steam which possibly enters into the chambers or stufiing boxes, so that the rings are re'ssed against the sidewalls of the cham- Eers substantially only by the pressure exercised by the springs on the wedges. To this end, cavities or recesses are preferably provided in the contacting faces between the side walls of the chambers and the rings pressed against. them, into which recesses the steam entering into the chambers can penetrate. In these recesses the steam which has entered exercises a counter-pressure which tends to press the-rings away from the walls of the chambers. \Vhen'these recesses or the pressure faces for the steam in them are suitably dimensioned it can be arranged, without further ado, that by meansof this countor-pressure the pressure which is exercised by the steam and tends to press the rings a ainst the side walls of the chambers is entlrel or approximately completely negative ,so that the rings are pressed against the walls of the chambers substantially only under the action of the springs surrounding the wedges. Preferably the arrangement is such" that the wedge is given a fairly slight slope, so that its action is only a moderate one, and, further, in each chamber are provided two divided, transversclyperforated rings provided outside with slanting faces and havingannular grooves in the sides, which rings are pressed apart and against the side walls of the chambers by a wedgeshaped ring provided inside with two slanting faces, so that the transverse holes in the rings open into the gap formed between the two owing to their being pressed apart. An illustrative embodiment of my invention in accordance herewith is represented in Figs. 4: and 5.

Referring to these figures, in each of the annular grooves a of the diaphragms Z two acking rings 0 and 03 each comprising two alf rings (Fig. 5) are placed. In this illustrative embodiment the rings are of substantiallyrectangular section and are provided on the outside with slanting faces 0. The wedge-shaped ring f which is pentagonal in section possesses inside two corresponding slanting faces g, so that one single Wedgeshaped ring j' presses the two divided rings 1; and (l of one chamber under the action of the spring h against the side walls of the chamber. i

The rings a and d are provided in their side faces with annular grooves i and these grooves are connected by narrow holes or channels is with the gap Z which is formed between the rings 0 and d by these rings bemg pressed away from the center under the action of the Wedge-shaped ring f When steam enters into the chambers, it is able to penetrate throu h the joints m (Fig, 5) between the half rings into the gap l and hence through the holes is into the annular grooves 2'. Thus while steam tends to press the rin s c and (27 against the side walls of the sta ng-box chamber on the one-' hand from the gap Z or from the outside-of the wedge-shaped rin s {2, the steam which has entered through t e oles k into the re: cesses 2' acts opposite to it and tends to press the rings from the side walls of the chamber toward the center. In this manner it is possible, when the annular grooves are dimensioned correspondingly, substantially to negative the action of the steam pressure on the packing rings, so that these are-"pressed against the side walls of the chambers only under the action of the springs which ress on the wedges. Owin to the slope of the wedge faces being fairly slight, it is obtained simultaneously that, if excess steampressurepossibly acts on the outside of the wedge rings, the packing rings are not pressed too severely against the side walls of the chambers and thus maintain their movability in a radial direction.

The transverse holes in the packing rings serve simultaneously an additional special purpose inassembling, and are therefore so arranged that the holes of the rings 0 and d of a chamber are opposite one another, in other words register one with another.

lVhen assembling the aching, threads of material which can'be estroyed by the action of steam, such as catgut, artificial silk, artificial horse-hair and the like, are drawn through these holes in the two rings after these rings have been joined together in, the desired position with the wedge-shaped ring and the s ring. The half rings a and d areheld firm y by these threads with the appertaining part of the wedge-shaped ring f and can thus be readily placed into their chamber or stalling-box. Then, as soon as steam is sent throu h the chamber, the threads break, the W es can operate and press 'the rings 0 and against the walls of the chamber.

It is possible .to modify the described embodiments in manifold ways. For example, the recesses in the contacting faces between the chamber walls and the rings pressed grooves of t the shaft of the tur ine.

5 not touching with another, a spira springnot perfectly till the groove.

: packing-rings 1'' so being provi eyasee against them may baptovifded in the chain ber walls instead of in sand faces; the pressure faces of these'recesses meant for the in said grooves for 1pressing said rings "against the side walls o the grooves, springs for said wedges within said grooves, recesses steam-do not require to be vertical; the holes being provi ed in the side faces of said sthrough which these recesses are connected pack1ng-rings pressed against the side-walls with the space in the chambersfilled with of said annular grooves. steam may run in another direction, and so 5. In a packing for the chamber-walls, of on. The 1 wedges and packing rings may steam-turbines and the like the combination have other shapes. instead ofithose shown .of divided steepness of thewedge faces ing the she may be changed. 4 a packing-rin s avi v g now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of "the United States is; In a packing for the chamber-walls of steam-turbines and the like the combination 4 of divided acking-rings closely surrounding the shaft or the like of the turbine, said packing-rin s being ackin -rinns or th like o being arranged in annular grooves of t e chamber-We] s, in said grooves for pressing said rings against the side walls of ,the for said wedges being provided at the contactin faces between the side walls of said .annu ar grooves arra d in annular e chamber-wa s, wedges with. in said grooves for guessing said rings against the side walls 0 the rooves, springs surrounding said wedges wit in said grooves,' said springs workin in a directiolbagainst against them, narrow transverse holes within said packing-rings and communicating with said recesses. w

6. In a acking for the chamber-walls of Steam-turbines and the like. an annular ,vided packing-rings closely surrounding the In a packing for the chamber-walls of shaft or the like and b steam-turbines and the like the combinaside within said annul tion of divided packing-rin s closely surth rounding the shaft or the li e of the tursaid packin -rings being arranged in i the chamber-walls, Wedge" shaped dividedrings surrounding d packing-rings within, said grooves, the single parts of said divided wed e rings wedge-shaped ring surrounding said pair of packingrings an pressing them a art from annular groove, 'wedge-shaped ring within. said oove.

7 Ina acking for the chain er-walls of steam-tur ines andthe like an annular groove" within said chamber-wall, two divided packing-rings closely surroundin the shaft or the like and being side within said annular groove, recesses in the side faces (if said packing-rings and surrounding said Wedge rings within-said ,grooves, said grooves and packing systems being so dimensioned, that the packing systemwith the wedge ring and spring does 3 In a packing for the chamber-Walls of steam-turbines and the like the combination of divided packing-rings closely surrounding the shaft, or the like of the turbine, said being arran ed in annular grooves of the chamber-walls, wedges within said grooves forressing sald against the side walls 0 the-grooves, or said Wediges within said-grooves,

municating with said recesses, the -transverse holes ofboth said j another, a divided wedge-sh ped ring surrlngs rounding said pair of ed ing-rings and springs pressing them apart-from each other andrecesses against the side walls of tile'j'afinnular groove, ed at the cont'actin faces he a. sprin surro V saidt gwedge-shaped tween the side walls of said annu argroswes or chambers and the packing-ring. pressed against thenn 4. In a packing for the chamber-walls of 5 steam-turbines and the like the combination of divided packing-rings closely surrounding the shaft or the like of the turbine, said Witnesses: packing-rings being arranged inannular HENRY Hksran, grooves of .the chamber-walls, wedges with- Wonnnnmn HAUrT.

rin in said g; 00%., n testimony "wreof I have hereunto set my hand in nesses.

'PJTQTAV HUHN.

closely surround-- f the turbine, said 7 each other and against the side wa ls of the,

a spring surrounding said arranged si e by.

transverse holes within said rings and com-- presence of t wo subscribing wit;

wedges withor chambers and the packing-rings pressed groove'within said chamber-wall, two di-' inunicating with said recesses, a divided v rings-registering with one' 

